Improvement in siding-gauges



10H N MASON. improvement in Sid-ing- Gauges.

Patented Oct. 24, 1871.

Nm ZOOL UNTTED STATES JOHN MASON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIDING-GAUGES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,301, dated October 24, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MASON, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gauge for Siding, Shingling, Ste.; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

rlhe nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a combination sliding gauge for spacing, supporting, and holding, and facilitating the putting on of siding on buildings, and for other purposes, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation7 referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a side view of my gauge.

A represents a block of suitable dimensions, provided with a shoulder or offset, B, and from the same apiece, (l, extends forward, which piece is curved, as shown. The entire face of the block, offset, and curved piece is metal-lined. In the block A is a sliding bar, D, the outer end of which is bent outward and provided with a point, a. This slide is held at any desired point by means of a set-screw, b. Through the block A immediately below the shoulder B is a hole for the passage of a point, E, or a nail when the gauge is used for siding. Around this hole or passage on the outer side of the gauge is a metal collar or protector, d.. The slide D being' under the lower edge of the siding, the machine being placed iiat against the siding the nail is driven into the building with the head close up to the brass protector d. rlhe next board is then placed upon the shoulder or support B and held by the projecting piece or holder O. After nailing the ends of the board the machine is taken oif by the claw of the hammer at the top of the holder, at the same time tapping the nail back andplacin g it as before on the board above, &c. Theholder C will keep the clap-board O at its place until it is nailed, thus actually doing thework of a second man.

In the practical operation of this machine it is necessary to have two or three of thesemachines, one for each end, and the third may be kept in the pocket to level up the center, Ste.

My gauge is also very useful in shingling, laying out work, &c. The headed pointE is usedin all cases except for siding when a nail is used, as above described.

Havin g thus fully described my invention, what 

